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Issued: 0930 Friday 9th December 2005
Duty forecaster: Simon Keeling

Turning Chilly Again...

For the past few days I've been hinting at the possibility of the weather turning colder again as we get into the middle to latter stages of next week.Each run of the forecast models are starting to back up this view and we should all now be ready for a cold snap before Christmas.

I suspect it will be almost a re-run of the colder weather during later November; high pressure building west of Ireland, forcing the winds to come from a colder northerly direction. Mixed in with these winds will be precipitation, this starting as snow over northern hills, but increasingly turning to snow at lower levels over eastern Scotland and northeast England.

So, when will this take place? Well, I think it's likely to be late Wednesday or Thursday that the cold air arrives in the north, probably later Thursday before the cold air is through all parts of the country.

One potential fly in the ointment is the chance of a more organised band of sleet and snow moving south overnight into Thursday. This could affect the Midlands and Wales particularly. However, the chances of this occurring are low at the moment but it's worth flagging it up just to alert you to the risk.

Whatever the weather, keep the sun shining!
Simon